Up to now it has been the PML (Polish Lottery Monopoly) that has fought for PLN 20m from Intralot. To no effect. Now its Greek partner is about to attack. According to PB's data one of the key chambers in Poland has preared on behalf of Intralot a draft of a compensation suit for PLN 60m.
The treasury's decision on closing down the PML, however groundless it may seem, means termination of the 10-year-long contract with Intralot. This may end up in an international court as itis an international agreement, says a person familiar with the matter.
At the same time, Intralot's attempts to contact the Treasury have been unsuccessful for some time now. Even Pantelis Carcabassis, the Greek Ambassador, has received no reply to his letter from September 3rd.
The time is running out and if it comes to paying the compensation to
Intralot it will have to be done by the Ministry of Treasury from... the tax
payers' money.
Moreover, it would be another conflict of the state with a
foreign investor (earlier Unicredit and Eureko) that could spoil the image of
Poland abroad.
"Conflicts between the company owners and investors are
inevitable. However, if the former is the Treasury it undermines the state's
authority," says Jeremi Mordasewicz from Polish Confederation of Private
Employees Lewiatan.
(PLN 1 - EUR 0.264)
KS